Seal for floating roof tanks



Jan. 31, 1950 c. M. ORR ET AL 2,495,755

SEAL FOR FLOATING ROOF TANKS Filed May 4, 1946 KSheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 31, 1950 c. M. ORR ET AL 2,495,755

' SEAL FOR FLOATING ROOF TANKS Filed May 4, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 2 .[7600/2777 'Z/QI'C/J/Z 7 3 6 w/ Z6275 C. M. ORR ETAL SEAL FOR FLOATING ROOF TANKS Jan. 31, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 4, 1945 (il nd I /100 000 90 In! 0 0 0 4 4 IIIII4 V.

Patented Jan. 31, 1950 Clifford M. Or-r and Fred L. (.loldsby, Chicago,

Ill., assignors to Chicago Bridge .-& Iron Company, a corporationot Illinois Application May 4, 1946, Serial No. 667,393 14 Claims. (c1. 220 26) This invention relates to a seal for a floating roof tank, and particularly to a secondary seal for use above a first seal member and to a support for supporting all sealing members. I

Floating roof tanks comprise a shell and a floating roof therein adapted to float on top of the stored liquid within the shell and rise and fall as the quantity of stored liquid is increased and decreased. In order to prevent contamination of the liquid by rain, dirt, and the like, and to .re- I and the roof. As the fiat sealing member is usuallyratherheavy and therefore does not form a periect seal with the shell of the tank, .it has been found advisable to provide a secondary sealing member located above the first sealing member. We have invented an improved secondary sealing member comprising broadly a substantially flat metal sheet to beheld against the shell above the firstsealing member.

The invention also includes theimproved means for-supporting both sealing members from the roof so that substantially uniform pressure may beapp'lied 'to the sealing members around themtire circumference of the shell of the tank in order to hold the sealing members in close contact with the shell.

The invention will be described as related to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings 'Fig. '1 is a fragmentary plan view of a floating .roof tank including the new secondary sealing member and the new support for both the first and secondary sealing members; '2 is a vertical section taken along line 2-2 of 'Fig. '1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along line 3 of Fig. "2; Fig. 4 is an elevation o'f animpr'oved w'asherbar 'for'holding the .flexible s'ealingmember in contact with the first sealing member; Fig. 5 is .a view taken along line 5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is an elevation of aconnectioniior the adj acent ends of two washer-bars; Figfllis .a plan viewoi the connection of Fig. 6.; .Fig. .8 .is a vertical section taken along .line .88 of Fig. and Fig. 9 is an elevation of an alternate type of washerbar.

In the drawings the tank comprises acsubstancylindrical zgshell I 0., a heating roof =|v l therein, a flat sheet metal first sealing member l2 held against the shell 1 0, a flat metal secondary sealing member l3 also held against the shell and located above the first sealing member 12, and support means 14 for supporting all sealing members.

The secondary sealing member l3 comprises a strip of flat sheet metal having its top edge 15 and bottom edge t6 bent back from the vertical. The sheet metal strip, which is preferably stainless steel, is provided with spaced vertical flexures l1 formed of inwardly directed folds in the metal These fiexures permit the secondary seal to ex-.

pend and contract. The top edge it of the secondary seal is provided with spaced vertical slits all.

The support means M comprises upstanding bolts 19 attached to the roof of the deck, a flat plate 20 adjustably mounted on these bolts by the top nuts 21 and bottom nuts 22, an upstanding first pipe 23 supported on the plate 20, :a horizontal second pipe 24 attached near its front end to the first pipe .23, and a third pipe 25 :of smaller diameter than the second pipe extending through the second pipe. There is provided as-pring '2 E between the plate 25 and the second pipe "24. This assembly is described and claimed in our copending application Serial .No. 637,017, filed December 22, 194-5, and the Henry 0. Wilbur copending application Serial No. 631,016, Jfiled December 22,

The ih'oint -.-end 27! .of the pipe 25 is flattened horizontally and extends through an opening '28 in 2a spreader :bar 29. The spreader bar 29 is a steel channel with the flanges of the channel extending toward the shell of the tank. The spreader bar .29 rislheld inpla-ce by means of a vertical bolt :30 extending through the channel and thexiiaittened end 2 1. This :bolt :has its bottom end extending below the channel andis provided with a hea-c 'Witha compression spring 32 between the head and the lower portion of the channel.

At each end of the lfirst :sp-reader bar 29 there is located a smaller, second spreader bar 3'3, also zfonmed #of :a steel channel of smaller width than the =zchemnel of the first spreader bar, so as 1to-fit within the ends :of the first spreader bar. Each second spreader bar .is held at substantially its center by bolts 34 extending through the flanges of theichannels. The first spreader bar 29 is retatably mounted .around :its bolt 30, and both of second spreader bars 533 :are rotatable around their 11101135234.

EIlh'e first sheet metal sealing member 12 is preferably but mot necessarily made according .to our .copending application Serial .No. $36 442,

3 filed December 21, 1945. It is provided with an inwardly extending top marginal area and an outwardly turned edge 36 to provide a smooth, non-cutting edge portion. There is provided a flexible sealing member 31 extending from the top edge of the roof I I to the top of the first sealing member l2 and on to the bottomedge I 6 of the secondary sealing member I3. This flexible sealing member may be a fabric impregnated with an impervious solid material, such asa synthetic rubber. It is fastened to the roof by means of a flat washer bar 38 held in place by a series of bolts 39, and is held in contact with the top of the first sealing member l2 by means of a substantially U-shaped washer bar 40' bolted by means of bolts 41 to the top of the first sealing mid-portion 80 of the tie bolt 59. This arrangement serves to support the entire seal.

Having described the invention as related to the embodiment set out in the accompanying drawings, it is intended that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

We claim:

1. In a floating roof tank comprising a shell, 9. floating roof therein, a first sealing member supported in sealing relationship with the shell, and

member l2. The top edge of the flexible sealing 4' member 31 is fastened to the bottom edge [6 of the secondary sealing member l3 by means of a second fiat washer bar 42.

The U-shaped washer bar 40 has its legs 43 extended toward the shell of the tank and contacting the flexible sealing member 31. The base 44 of this washer bar is substantially flat and is provided with spaced transverse slots to give flexibility to the U-shaped washer bar 40. The washer bar is provided with inwardly extending brackets 45 engaging bolts 46 passing through the ends of the second spreader bars 33.

In order to support the secondary sealing member [3 there are provided upstanding arms 41 at each end of each second spreader bar 33. Each arm 41 is provided with a curved leaf spring 48 at its top end with the leaf spring being arranged in horizontal position and each end of each leaf spring passing through a slot 49 in a vertical fiexure 11. There is one spring 41 provided for each pair of adjacent flexures i1 and each spring is so arranged that it serves to press the secondary sealing member out against the shell.

When the seal and seal support are assembled the effective distance between the two ends of each second spreader bar 33 is substantially equal to the distance between adjacent ends of each adjacent pair of second spreader bars. Similarly the effective distance between the ends of each leaf spring 48 is substantially equal to the distance between adjacent ends of each adjacent pair of leaf springs. The vertical flexures l1, therefore, are equally spaced around the secondary sealing member I3.

As shown in the drawings, the supports M are mounted on the top deck 50 of the floating roof I and the roof is provided with a brace 5| under each support. If a roof is used that has no top deck the supports may rest on plates or other structural members extending across portions of the top of the roof.

In Figs. 5 to 9 there is shown an alternate type of support having a washer bar 52 provided with rounded ends 53 and flanges 54. The flanges are provided with spaced slots 55 with each pair of opposed slots being aligned. A tie plate 56'i's provided for each end of a washer bar with each tie plate being attached to a washer bar as by a bolt 51. Each tie plate has an inwardly extending vertical ear 58 provided with a hole. Each pair of adjacent ears are connected by a tie bolt 59. Each tie bolt has a mid-portion 60 of substantially square cross-section provided with a vertical hole 6! therein. The tie bolt is supported at the end of a small spreader bar 33 by a. vertical bolt 62 extending between the flanges of the spreader bar and through the hole in-the hanger means mounted on the roof for supporting the first sealing member, a secondary seal comprising a secondary sealing member comprising a substantially flat metal sheet having spaced substantially vertical flexures formed therein and held against the shell above the first sealing memher, and means supported by the hanger means for holding substantially all of the outer surface of the secondary sealing member in sealing engagement against the shell.

2. In a floating roof tank comprising a shell and a floating roof therein, sealing means comprising: a first sealing member held against the inner surface of the shell; a secondary sealing member arranged above the first sealing member and comprising a flat metal sheet having top and bottom marginal areas bent back from the vertical with said marginal areas having a plurality of spaced, substantially vertical slits therein, and said metal sheet has spaced, substantially vertical flexures therein located between said marginal areas; spaced hanger members located around the edge of the roof with each hanger member comprising a portion extending toward the shell of the tank; a first spreader bar arranged substantially horizontally and supported at substantially its center by the outer end of said portion; a pair of substantially horizontal second spreader bars each supported at its center by one end of the first spreader bar; means mounted on the first sealing member and attached to an end of one of the T second spreader bars for supporting the first sealroof and first sealing member; and a second flexible sealing member extending between the first sealing member and the secondary sealin member.

3. The sealing means of claim 2 wherein both flexible sealing members are formed of one continuous sheet of material extending from the roof to the first sealing member, and to the secondary sealing member, and the sheet is held against the first sealing member by a washer bar with the sheet pressed between the washer bar and the first sealing member, said second spreader bars being attached to the washer bar to support the first sealing member, and said supporting means for the secondary sealing member comprising upstanding arms attached to the second spreader bars.-

4. The sealing means of claim 2 wherein the edge of at least one flexible sealing member is at tached to the first sealing member by means of a washer bar with the second spreader bars being attached to the washer bar to support thefirst sealing member.

5. The sealing means of claim 2 wherein both flexible sealing members are formed of one con,- tinuous sheet of material extending from root-to the first sealing member, and to the secondary sealing member, and the sheet is held against the first sealing member by a washer bar with the sheet pressed between the washer bar and the first sealing member, said washer bar having a substantially U-shaped cross-section with the edges pressing against the flexible sealing member and the base having spaced transverse slots therein to give flexibility to the washer bar, and. said second spreader bars having their ends attached to lugs projecting from the washer bar to support the first sealing member with said ends of the second spreader bars being provided with upstanding arms supporting the secondary sealing member.

6. In a floating roof tank comprising a shell, a floating roof therein, sealing means held in sealing relationship with the shell, and support means for supporting the sealing means including a member supported on the roof extending toward the shell, a first spreader bar to be supported by the shell end of said extending member, and at least one second spreader bar attached to one end of the first spreader bar for supporting the sealing means.

7. The support means of claim 6 wherein the first spreader bar is arranged substantially horizontally and is supported at substantially its center by the said extending member.

8. The support means of claim 6 wherein the first spreader bar is arranged substantially horizontally and is supported at substantially its center by the said extending member, and the second spreader bar is also arranged substantially horizontally and is supported at substantially its center by the first spreader bar.

9. In a floating roof tank comprising a shell, a floating roof therein, sealing means held in sealing relationship with the shell, and support means for supporting the sealing means including a member supported on the roof extending toward the shell, a first spreader bar supported by the shell end of said extending member, and a pair of second spreader bars for supporting the sealing means with each of said second spreader bars supported by one end of the first spreader bar, said first and second spreader bars being arranged substantially horizontally and rotatably supported at substantially their centers for rotational movement in a substantially horizontal plane.

10. The support means of claim 9 wherein the effective distance between the ends of each second spreader bar is substantially equal to the distance between adjacent ends of said second spreader bars when the support means is in place.

11. The sealing means of claim 2 wherein the edge of at least one flexible sealing member is attached to the first sealing member by means of at least two aligned washer bars, the adjacent edges of said washer bars being provided with upstanding flanges, a tie bar extending between said flanges, and one end of a second spreader bar being attached to said tie bar to support the first sealing member.

12. In a floating roof tank comprising a shell, a floating roof therein, a first sealing member supported in sealing relationship with the shell, and hanger means mounted on the roof for sup porting the first sealing member, a secondary seal comprising a secondary sealing member comprising a substantially flat metal sheet adapted to be held against the shell above the first sealing member, said secondary sealing member having top and bottom marginal areas bent back from the vertical and having spaced substantially vertical flexures therein located between said marginal areas, and means supported by the hanger means for holding the secondary sealing member against the shell.

13. In a floating roof tank comprising a shell and a floating roof therein, sealing means comprising a first sealing member supported against the inner surface of the shell, hanger means mounted on the roof for supporting the first sealing member in contact with the shell, a secondary sealing member comprising a flat metal sheet having top and bottom marginal areas bent back from the vertical with said marginal areas having a plurality of spaced substantially vertical slits therein and said metal sheet having spaced substantially vertical flexures therein extending between said marginal areas, said secondary sealing member being located above the first sealing member and held against the shell, second support means supported by the hanger means for holding the secondary sealing member in position, a flexible sealing member extending between the roof and the first sealing member, and a second flexible sealing member extending between the first sealing member and the secondary sealing member.

14. In a floating roof tank comprising a shell, a floating roof therein, and a first sealing member supported from the roof in sealing contact with the shell, a secondary sealing member located above the first sealing member and com prising a flat metal sheet having top and bottom marginal areas bent back from the plane of the sheet and having spaced substantially vertical flexures provided therein between said marginal areas.

CLIFFORD M. ORR. FRED L. GOLDSBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number I Name Date 1,825,639 Shanor Sept. 29, 1931 2,148,811 Griffin Feb. 28, 1939 2,426,755 Ulm Sept. 2, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 543,844 Great Britain Mar. 18, 1942 

